Ododo and Divinity
2019An 8ft metal sculpture. Divinity is now a collection at Central Saint Martins museum/ Archive.
Ododo and Divinity were created as a celebration of women of colour who have influenced me and other women during my time and before me. Divinity stands as a representation of them, The queen mother of Edo (Idia) Iye Esigie, the hard-working mothers, teachers, political figures, fighters, writers, athletes, the women at my Gym who constantly shower me with love, the women who are not afraid to put themselves first and stand up for their truths, Liz Obi, Olive Morris, and the ones that constantly motivate me to keep fighting my battles.
For every single strength and fire in them makes up the fragments of metal welded on her which gives Divinity her body. When you burn metal it becomes stronger and together they make up her figure. She is accompanied by Ododo (red the Leopard) who walks alongside Divinity and represents the spirit in us.
In Edo State Benin Kingdom where I was raised up, our Oba (king) is known as the ‘’Home Leopard’’, he's the one who has the supreme power passed down to him from his ancestors and blessing to tame the wild leopard to be beside him and to protect his kingdom. I took the concept of the leopard from the kingdom’s belief and understanding the leopard is the smallest of wild cats but one of the most powerful as a way of communicating the fighter Spirit within these women, as society, sees us as the smallest but we are powerful change-makers and fighters. Just like the Leopard, we do our best to protect our own, our community and the ones who look like us.